Robert McCrorie, PA-C, spent his growing up years in Hoquim, WA. He moved
to Texas after graduation and worked in construction for six years. He
enlisted in the United States Army in 1983 and served on a Special Forces
Alpha Detachment in a wide variety of austere environments and cultures
worldwide providing planning, medical care, humanitarian assistance, and
training for U. S., Allied and foreign nationals. He served as an instructor/writer
for combat trauma management at special warfare centers and schools. Deployments
took him all over the world – Africa, the Middle East, South East
Asia numerous times, Afghanistan, Bosnia , Croatia, Haiti to name a few.
“I especially liked Africa and Afghanistan,” he said. “We
treated multiple casualties under enemy fire or in a semi permissive tactical
environment, triaged casualties and arranged medical evacuations. We also
managed detachment, allied and indigenous patients on an outpatient basis.”
It was hard work but very rewarding. “We knew we were serving people
who really needed our help; we were deployed to Haiti when the earthquake
struck,” McCrorie said. “In Bosnia the US came in as the Serbs
were going out. The people who had been forced out were now able to return.
However, they were returning to cities and homes that had been completely
destroyed.”
McCrorie’s educational background includes a Bachelor of Health Sciences
from Campbell University in Buies Creek, North Carolina and a Master of
Health Sciences, Emergency and Disaster Management from Trident University
in Cypress, CA. He put this education and training to good use as he organized
and conducted unit training in tactical combat casualty care and coordinated
medical support. He retired from the military in 2010. He was the recipient
of many awards including the Bronze Star (two times), Meritorious Service
Medal (five times), Joint Service Commendation Medal ,Army Commendation
Medal (four times), Joint Service Achievement Medal, Humanitarian Service
Medal(two times) and the NATO Ribbon (two times).
McCrorie’s years of taking care of people around the world helped
him define goals for the next phase of his life. “I knew I wanted
to continue caring for underserved populations. I was accepted into the
MEDEX Northwest Program at the University of WA in 2016.” This program
includes rotations in a medical setting. “I was privileged to do
one of my rotations at CBHA under the guidance of pediatrician Dr. Gabe
Bario. I learned so much from him and others at the clinic. I Knew this
was where I wanted to be and I quickly said ‘yes’ when I was
offered a permanent position after I graduated from the program in 2018
and passed the state boards. I love being a part of CBHA’s medical
provider team!”
McCrorie and his wife, Shelly, have purchased a home in Othello and are
busy settling into the community. “I had the advantage of being
here for the past eight months so am pretty well acquainted with the area,”
he said. “I quickly discovered the Columbia National Wildlife Refuge
and enjoyed hiking there last fall.” His little dog Bella, part
Bichon and part Shitzu, is his hiking buddy. The McCrories have two grown
children – a son and a daughter. “Our daughter has two sons
and our son has two daughters,” he said. “We love them all
to pieces!” McCrorie also enjoys downhill skiing and biking. He
is an avid reader – Charles Martin is his favorite author.